Dolphin Splash
Davis Elementary Principal's Newsletter
September 10, 2023
Dear Davis Families,
Last week was a short school week, but a very busy and productive one! The first few weeks of school included a great deal of review of previous learning and students are now challenged to learn new content and skills. Over the course of the week, teachers worked with K-5th grade students to complete beginning of year MAP Growth assessments in reading and math. These assessments provide valuable information for teachers regarding student strengths and areas of need. This week, 1st and 2nd grade teachers will begin Number Sense Screener assessments with students, which include 1:1 student interviews and a brief written assessment to determine proficiency with foundational math skills.
You'll see information below regarding parent/teacher conferences, which are coming up very soon. This is a great opportunity to visit with your child's teacher to hear how they are doing in all areas and to collaborate with teachers on strategies for ensuring your child thrives this year.
I previously shared the 2023-2024 Davis Family Handbook and am including a link to the handbook at the bottom of every newsletter for your reference. I will also include an excerpt in each of these newsletters to highlight an area for your information.
Thank you for being a part of Davis!
Warm regards,
Jenny Daniels Principal, Davis Elementary
jennifer.daniels@austinisd.org
512-414-2580, ext 55182
IN THIS EDITION
- Davis Details: Upcoming Parent/Teacher Conference Day
- Looking Ahead: September 11-15
- From the Handbook: Absences and Late Arrivals, Early Departures
- Upcoming Dates to Remember
- Davis in Pictures: Meet the Davis Administrators
- AISD News: Enroll Austin- New Enrollment System for 2024-2025 School Year
Davis Details
UPCOMING PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCE DAY
Monday, September 25, is our first scheduled Parent/Teacher Conference Day of the year. Teachers will be scheduling conferences on this date, along with options for participating in the conference on other days near this date. At the conference, teachers will share the following:
Comments about how the student is performing in all academic areas
Fall MAP Growth results and interpretation (K-5) or Circle-PM CLI (PK)
Previous year STAAR scores (4th-5th) and interpretation
Attendance and/or behavior observations
Strategies for supporting your child's learning at home
We are aware that September 25, 2023 is also Yom Kippur - the “Day of Atonement” - the holiest day in Judaism. Please know that those who have religious or personal obligations on September 25th will be offered an alternate time for the conference.
LOOKING AHEAD: September 11-15
Davis Way Focus
- K-2nd: Empathy
- 3rd-5th: Critical Thinker & Problem Solver
MONDAY
Number Sense Screener opens (1st, 2nd)
TUESDAY
- 7:45-8:00am: 2nd Grade Assembly
WEDNESDAY
- 7:45-8:00am: 1st Grade Assembly
THURSDAY
- 7:45-8:00am: Kindergarten Assembly
FRIDAY
- 9am-12pm: Keep Austin Beautiful classroom visits (3rd)
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
FROM THE HANDBOOK: ABSENCES & LATE ARRIVALS, EARLY DEPARTURES
Attendance is taken at 10:30 a.m. daily. According to state guidelines, if a student is not present at 10:30 a.m., they are considered absent for the entire day. If the absence occurs due to a medical appointment, a note from the medical provider is required to avoid being counted as an unexcused absence. If the student is absent due to illness, a note from the parent is necessary to explain the absence. If the student is absent due to a funeral, a funeral program is required to excuse the absence.
When your child is late arriving, or leaves school early, they MUST be signed in/out at the office through the online Raptor system (an ID is required). If your child has a doctor’s appointment during the day, a note from the doctor is necessary in order for it to be excused. Allow plenty of time when picking up your child. Classrooms and the office are busy places and it may take a few minutes for your child to be released. Students will only be called for once the parent arrives at campus and is cleared with their driver’s license. Students will not be allowed to wait in advance of the parent's arrival. For the smoothest transition, we also ask for students leaving early to be picked up prior to 2:45. Parents arriving after 2:45 will need to wait until dismissal at 3:10 for pick up.
UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER
September 18-22
9/18: Gifted & Talented (GT) Referral Window Opens
9/18: Hazmat & Evacuation Drill
9/19 @ 6pm: Virtual Gifted & Talented Information Session
9/20 @ 12pm: Virtual Gifted & Talented Information Session
9/21: Dine with Davis @ Taco Flats
9/21, 6:30-7:30pm: PTA Meeting
9/22: CLI Closes (PK)
9/22: TX-KEA Opens (K)
9/22, 9am-12pm: Keep Austin Beautiful Classroom Visits (3rd)
September 25-29
9/25: Conference Day, Student Holiday
9/26, 9:00-9:45am: Magnet School Presentation (5th, Zoom)
9/27: Number Sense Screener Closes (1st, 2nd)
9/29, 9am-12pm: Keep Austin Beautiful Classroom Visits (3rd)
October 2-6
GT Screener (2nd)
10/3: Fall Individual Photos
10/5, 3:30-4:30pm: CAC Meeting
Davis in Pictures: Meet the Davis Administrators
AISD NEWS
ENROLL AUSTIN- NEW ENROLLMENT SYSTEM FOR 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR: Enroll Austin will be officially launching in November for the 2024-2025 enrollment cycle.
The unified enrollment system will be replacing the following systems into one streamlined application system beginning in the 2024-25 enrollment cycle: Online Registration (Frontline), Online Student Transfer Request, Common Application and Pre-K Application. Families will continue to use Online Registration, Online Transfer Request, and Pre-K Application for the current 2023-24 school year. More information will be shared as the launch date approaches.
